Spreader for particulate material

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a spreader for a particulate material as it is being deposited in a storage bin. The spreader includes a rotatable body portion having downwardly diverging sidewalls terminating at a base. Elongated deflector blades extend out from the sidewalls and are angularly disposed with respect to the base. A deflector plate extends out from the base at the lower end of each deflector blade. The body portion is mounted within a storage bin so that its axis of rotation is disposed below the inlet port of the bin.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to material handling devices, and moreparticularly to spreaders for particulate material.

BACKGROUND ART

In the storage of particulate material it is generally desirable tominimize the fracturing of the particles. Grains, such as corn,soybeans, wheat and rice, are susceptible to rapid deterioration if theseed coat is cracked or fractured. Also, the resulting fines contributeto caking of a stored mass of grain.

When a grain storage bin is filled from a central inlet port, thedeposited grain and the included fines form a central mound. Althoughthe full grains easily cascade from the center mound to the periphery ofthe storage bin, fines and fractured grains tend to concentrate at thecenter of the bin and cause caking. This caking condition inhibitsventilation and results in the build-up of heat and moisture which leadsto the further deterioration of the stored grain. Also, the concentratedcaked material forms a solid center core that may fall down over thegrain withdrawal outlet and inhibit the bin unloading operation. Inextreme cases dynamite has been used to fracture the hard center corethat blocks the withdrawal outlet.

Although material spreaders are available, most include complicatedstructures and require power drives to operate. Simple, reliablespreaders are not currently available.

Those concerned with these and other problems recognize the need for animproved spreader for particulate materials.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a spreader for a particulate material asit is being deposited in a storage bin. The spreader includes arotatable body portion having downwardly diverging sidewalls terminatingat a base. Elongated deflector blades extend out from the sidewalls andare angularly disposed with respect to the base. A deflector plateextends out from the base at the lower end of each deflector blade. Thebody portion is mounted within a storage bin so that its axis ofrotation is disposed below the inlet port of the bin.

As material is deposited into the bin through the inlet port, thefalling material contacts the angled deflector blades and causes thebody portion to rotate. Each blade divides the deposited material into aseparate stream and the corresponding deflector plate feathers eachmaterial stream out from the center of the bin. This dispersion exposesa larger surface area of the particulate material to the ambient airwhich increases the drag force on the falling particle and acts todecrease the velocity of the particle, thus minimizing particlefracture.

In situations where the bin is over-filled so the grain touches orcovers the spreaders, there will be no damage to the spreader. Likewise,when grain is removed from the over-filled bin, the grain will simplyfall away from the spreader and it is ready to be used again.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an improvedspreader for particulate material.

Another object is to provide a spreader that is adapted to use in grainstorage bins.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a spreader that isoperated by the kinetic energy of the material being deposited into thestorage bin.

Still another object is to provide a spreader that disperses materialand provides exposure of a large surface area of the material toincrease the drag force on falling particles to minimize fracture.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of aspreader that is uncomplicated in structure, durable and easy tomaintain.

Yet another object is to provide a spreader that minimizes the build-upof particle fines at an area in the bin storage chamber thus minimizingthe tendency of the material to cake.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other attributes of the invention will become more clear upona thorough study of the following description of the best mode forcarrying out the invention, particularly when reviewed in conjunctionwith the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section, illustrating agrain handling facility wherein one of the storage bins is equipped withthe spreader of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the spreader having apyramid-shaped body and a rotatable mounting disposed below the spreaderbody;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the FIG. 2 embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view illustrating the direction of rotation of thespreader body and the distribution pattern of the grain;

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevational view of the FIG. 2 embodimentshowing the frame for the rotatable mounting attached to the binsidewalls;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partially in section, illustrating analternate rotatable mounting disposed above the spreader body andsupported by the end of a grain downspout from a conveyor belt chargingsystem;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a rotatable mounting similar tothat illustrated in FIG. 6 but wherein the spreader body is supportedand fed by a double conduit feeding cone adapted to be supported by thestorage bin below the inlet opening by bracket extensions or hangingchains; and

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating an alternate spreaderhaving a cone-shaped body.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1shows a grain handling facility including a number of storage bins (1).After harvest, grain is transported to the facility by trucks (2) anddumped into a grain pit (3). The grain is then moved through a verticalconveyor leg (4) to a distributor (5). The grain is then selectivelycharged to one of the storage bins (1) through a conduit (6). The firstbin (1) to the left of FIG. 1 is not equipped with a spreader and grainis deposited through the inlet port (7) to the storage chamber (8) andis deposited in a central mount (9) within the storage chamber (8). Thesecond bin (1) to the right of the first is equipped with the spreader(10) of the present invention.

As best shown in FIGS. 2-5, one embodiment of the spreader (10) includesa rotatable pyramid-shaped body portion (12) having four triangularsidewalls (14) and a square base (16). An elongated deflector blade (18)is attached to each sidewall (14) and is angularly disposed with respectto the base (16). The upper end (20) of each blade (18) is positionedgenerally vertically above the lower end (22) of the next adjacent blade(18). A deflector plate (24) extends out from the base (18) at the lowerend (22) of each blade (18).

As shown in FIG. 5, the body portion (12) is rotatably mounted above avertical spindle (30) supported on horizontal frame members (32) mountedto the sidewalls of a storage bin (1). The embodiment of FIG. 6 showsthe body portion (12) rotatably mounted below a vertical spindle (30)which is supported by a sleeve or frame member (32) attached to a graindownspout (34). Bearings (36) allow for free rotation of the spindle(30) within the sleeve (32) and thus free rotation of the body portion(12) within the grain bin (1).

FIG. 7 shows a body portion (12) rotatably mounted from a double conduitfeeding cone (40) which is supported below the inlet port (7) by bracketextensions or hanging chains attached to tabs (42). The inner cone (44)centers the flow of grain over the body portion (14). The bottom of theinner cone (44) is restricted to slow the flow of grain and the outercone (46) receives the excess grain. The spindle (30) and sleeve (32)together with the inner and outer cones (44 and 46), are interconnectedby braces (48). A steel pin (50) is used at the top of the spindle (30)and a dust cap (52) extends over the spindle to eliminate dust and wear.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 shows a cone-shaped body portion(12) and a plurality of blades (18) that may be formed of rod or squarestock.

In operation, the spreader (10) is positioned to receive the flow ofgrain into a bin (1) which could be fed by an auger, a downspout, orconveyor belts. Grain contacts the blades (18) and causes the bodyportion (12) to rotate. Each blade (18) divides the grain into aseparate stream (FIG. 4) and the deflector plate (24) feathers eachstream out from the center of the bin (1). This dispersion exposes alarge surface area of grain to the ambient air. This increases the dragon each grain particle and acts to decrease the velocity to minimizeparticle fracture. Also, the dispersion acts to scatter the existingfines in the grain and prevents the concentration of fines in a centrallocation that leads to caking and grain deterioration.

Thus, it can be seen that at least all of the stated objectives havebeen achieved.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:
 1. A spreader for a material storage bin having an inlet port, means for admitting particulate material through the inlet port, and a storage chamber disposed below the inlet port, the spreader comprising:a rotatable body portion having at least three triangular side walls, an axis of rotation and including downwardly diverging sidewalls terminating at a base; a plurality of elongated deflector blades attached to and extending out from the sidewalls, the blades being angularly disposed with respect to the base and having an upper end and a lower end; means for rotatably mounting the body portion within the storage bin such that the axis of rotation is disposed below the inlet port; and further including a deflector plate attached to the base and disposed to extend outwardly from a portion of the base adjacent the lower end of the deflector blades so as to divide falling grain into separate streams whereby the deflector plate feathers each of said separate streams out from a center of the bin and exposes a larger surface area of grain particles to the ambient air thereby increasing drag on each grain particle so as to act to decrease grain particle velocity such that grain particle fracturing is minimized and the grain is evenly distributed.
 2. The spreader of claim 1 wherein the body portion is pyramidally shaped.
 3. The spreader of claim 2 wherein the elongated deflector blades extend generally parallel to one side of their respective sidewalls, the upper end of one deflector blade being disposed generally vertically above the lower end of the next adjacent deflector blade.
 4. The spreader of claim 1 wherein the body portion is conically shaped.
 5. The spreader of claim 4 wherein each elongated deflector blade extends generally parallel to the next adjacent elongated deflector blade.
 6. The spreader of claim 1 wherein the mounting means includes a frame operably attached to the storage bin, and a spindle having a vertically directed axis operably rotatably attached to the body portion.
 7. The spreader of claim 6 wherein the frame is generally horizontally disposed within the storage chamber.
 8. The spreader of claim 6 wherein the frame is generally vertically disposed to depend down from the storage bin inlet port.
 9. The spreader of claim 8 wherein the frame supports a first downwardly diverging material conduit disposed around the spindle and having a lower opening disposed above the body portion.
 10. The spreader of claim 8 wherein the frame further supports a second downwardly diverging material conduit disposed around the first material conduit and having a lower opening disposed above the body portion.
 11. The spreader of claim 10 wherein hanging brackets are attached to the second material conduit, the hanging brackets being disposed to removably attach to the storage bin near the inlet port.
 12. An apparatus for spreading particulate matter into a storage bin as said particulate matter is discharged from the outlet port of a downwardly directed conduit, comprising:a generally pyramidally shaped distributor having a polygonal base, at least three triangular sidewalls, and an apex; a frame for rotatably securing said distributor beneath the outlet port such that the apex of said distributor is directed at said outlet port; said base of said distributor having a dimension such that substantially all particulate matter leaving the outlet port of said downwardly directed conduit will strike said distributor sidewalls; and a deflector plate mounted to each of said distributor sidewalls such that particulate matter exiting said outlet port will strike at least some portion of a blade such that at least some portion of the particulate matter linear kinetic energy will be converted to distributor rotational kinetic energy such that the distributor is caused to rotate at a rate generally dependent on the output rate of particulate matter from said outlet port and said particulate matter is generally envenly dispersed within said bin and whereby falling grain is divided into separate streams and the deflector plate feathers each stream out from a center of the bin and exposes a large surface area of grain particles to the ambient air thereby increasing drag on each grain particle so as to act to decrease grain particle velocity such that grain particle fracturing is minimized. 